Jerry Houston, a top Saratoga real estate agent, and Bart Call and Julie Gilbert, top Los Gatos agents, have joined Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Silicon Valley.

"We're thrilled to have Jerry, Bart and Julie join our team," said Jeff Culbertson, president of Coldwell Banker in Silicon Valley. "These folks are clearly among the most talented, professional and successful agents in the business."

Houston, a Saratoga resident and a 28-year industry veteran, is said to be one of the most distinguished real estate professionals in the South Bay area. He is ranked in the top 5 percent of real estate professionals nationwide, and his successful sales record has resulted in more than 1,100 closed transactions during his career.

Call and Gilbert are said to be among the most successful real estate teams in the South Bay area. Together, the two agents have a combined 18 years experience in the real estate industry. Last year alone, Call and Gilbert closed more than 40 transactions, representing a well-balanced mix of 65 percent listings and 35 percent buyers.

Agents support schools

Alain Pinel Realtors agents Ron Jones and Bonnie Griffith of the Los Gatos office made a substantial donation to the Silver Oak Educational Partnership and Silver Oak Elementary School prior to the start of the 2003­04 school year.

Jones and Griffith donated their share of a real estate commission generated by the closed sale of a home in the Silver Creek area of San Jose.

Over the past three years, Jones and Griffith have contributed approximately $100,000 to the Silver Oak Educational Partnership.

Crane an Intero VP

Brian Crane, a Los Gatos resident, has been named vice president and managing officer for Intero Real Estate Services, a full service real estate company with an office in Los Gatos.

Crane, a Bay Area native and a graduate of Santa Clara University, has been a top 5 percent Realtor/Broker in Santa Clara County for the past several years.

Burnett earns promotion

Larry Knapp, president and COO of Alain Pinel Realtors, has announced that Carol Burnett has been named vice president and managing broker of the company's 140-agent office in Saratoga. Burnett is the highest-ranking female Realtor in Saratoga.

"Carol is one of the most dynamic leaders in real estate and is devoted to the sales professionals she works with," said Knapp.

Last year Alain Pinel's Saratoga office was acknowledged as one of only 10 real estate offices in the country to generate more than $1 billion in sales volume. In 2002, the Saratoga office contributed $1.057 billion in home sales transactions to the overall company production of $7 billion in sales volume.

Burnett is a past winner of the President's Award from the Los Gatos­Saratoga Board of Realtors in recognition of success for professional involvement in organized real estate and commitment to the community.

Knapp, a 30-year real estate veteran, was appointed president and COO of Alain Pinel last June.